HK1159965B - Hair accessory and method of styling hair - Google Patents

Abstract

The presently disclosed technology teaches a hair accessory for receiving and restraining a bundle of hair, a method of making the hair accessory, and methods of styling hair and instructing others to style hair using the hair accessory. The hair accessory comprises a pair of opposing ductile metallic members. In one implementation, the ductile metallic members are generally rectangular and each has a pair of longitudinal ends. The ductile metallic members are covered by at least one backing member. The ductile metallic members are generally configured in an opposing relationship to each other with at least one closed end. The ductile metallic members may be separated from each other along a portion of their longitudinal lengths to define an opening for receiving a bundle of hair. The opposing ductile metallic members may also be closed about the bundle of hair to secure the hair accessory within a wearer's hair.

Description

Hair accessory and method of styling hair

Reference to related applications

This application relates to U.S. non-provisional application No.11/157,232 entitled "hair accessory and method of styling hair" filed on month 6 and 20, 2005 and U.S. non-provisional application No.12/033,552 entitled "hair accessory and method of styling hair" filed on month 2 and 19, 2008, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The present application further claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No.61/096,774 entitled "hair accessory and method of styling hair" filed on 13.9.2008, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Technical Field

The technical content of the present disclosure relates to a hair accessory, a method of manufacturing the hair accessory, a method of designing a hairstyle using the hair accessory, and a method of instructing a person to design a hairstyle using the method of designing a hairstyle.

Disclosure of Invention

It would be desirable to provide a hair accessory that easily and securely retains a wearer's hair in a decorative and/or functional configuration. In one embodiment, the technical content of the present disclosure includes a hair accessory for receiving and holding a bundle of hair.

A hair accessory for receiving and retaining a bundle of hair, a method of manufacturing the hair accessory, and a method of styling hair and instructing others to style hair with the hair accessory are provided. The hair accessory includes a pair of opposed, thin, resilient, ductile metallic members. In one embodiment, for example, the ductile metallic member comprises a substantially rectangular ductile metallic member each having a pair of longitudinal ends. The ductile metallic member is covered by at least one laminar lining element (backing member). The ductile metallic members are substantially configured in an opposing relationship to each other and are substantially configured with at least one closed end. The ductile metallic members may be spaced apart from each other along at least a portion of their longitudinal length to define an opening for receiving a bundle of hair. The opposing ductile metallic members may also be closed about the bundle of hair to secure the hair accessory within the hair of the wearer. As described below, the hair accessory can be used to provide a number of different and novel hair styles to the wearer.

In another embodiment, the disclosed technology includes a method of manufacturing such a hair accessory, and further includes methods of styling hair and instructing others to style hair with such a hair accessory.

The above and other aspects, features, details, utilities, and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from reading the following description and from viewing the accompanying drawings.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a hair accessory according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the hair accessory of FIG. 1 taken along section line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3-5 are isometric views depicting steps for assembling the hair accessory of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a hair accessory according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are isometric views depicting steps for assembling the hair accessory of FIG. 6; and

fig. 9-14 are isometric views depicting steps of a method for styling hair according to the teachings of the present disclosure.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 is an isometric view of a first embodiment of a hair accessory 10. Fig. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the hair ornament 10 of fig. 1 taken along section line 2-2. In this embodiment, hair accessory 10 includes a pair of ductile metallic members 12, 14. Each of the pair of ductile metallic members 12, 14 is encased in at least one liner 16. The pair of opposing ductile metallic members are connected at least at a first end 18 of hair accessory 10 and may be spaced apart from each other to define an opening 20 for receiving a strand of hair. The pair of opposed ductile metallic members 12, 14 may then be brought back together to secure the strands of hair between the opposed ductile metallic members 12, 14.

In the particular embodiment of fig. 1, hair accessory 10 comprises a pair of opposed ductile metallic members encased and fixedly attached within at least one liner 16. The opposed ductile metallic members 12, 14 are substantially disposed in an end-to-end configuration within the at least one liner 16. A portion 22 of liner 16 connects longitudinal ends 24, 26 of the pair of ductile metallic members 12, 14 at first end 18 of hair ornament 10. However, in other embodiments, the longitudinal ends 24, 26 of the pair of ductile metallic members 12, 14 may be connected by any other method, such as by clips, rivets, bolts and nuts, staples, welding, soldering, heat staking, or the like.

In this particular embodiment, the ductile metallic members 12, 14 are securely attached within at least one liner 16 along at least a portion of the length of the ductile metallic members 12, 14. For example, the ductile metallic members 12, 14 may be securely attached within the liner 16 along substantially the entire length of the ductile metallic members 12, 14. For example, the ductile metallic members 12, 14 may be attached within the at least one liner 16 by adhesives, double sided tape, welding, fusing, heat staking, stitching, hook and loop fasteners, or the like. In this manner, movement of the attached ductile metallic members 12, 14 relative to liner 16 is reduced and allows hair accessory 10 to grip the wearer's hair without slipping. In one embodiment, for example, the padding comprises velvet or suede material, although other materials may be used. The ductile metallic members 12, 14 may comprise any ductile metallic material, such as copper, aluminum, or an alloy of one or two metals.

Fig. 3-5 illustrate a method for assembling the hair ornament 10 of fig. 1. In fig. 3, for example, a pair of substantially rectangular ductile metallic members 12, 14 are arranged in a substantially end-to-end configuration with a space between opposing longitudinal ends of the ductile metallic members 12, 14. The liner 16 is then wrapped around the ductile metallic members 12, 14 as indicated by arrows 28, 30 and securely attached to the ductile metallic members 12, 14. For example, the liner 16 may be securely attached to the ductile metallic member by any known connection structure (e.g., adhesive, double sided tape, welding, fusing, heat staking, stitching, hook and loop fasteners, etc.). For example, the liner 16 may comprise a material that covers the ductile metallic members 12, 14 and protects them from the external environment and/or protects the wearer from potentially sharp edges of the ductile metallic members. For example, a soft material (e.g., velvet, suede, or leather) may be used for the liner 16. In other embodiments, polymers such as polyurethane may be used.

As shown in FIG. 5, connecting portion 22 of liner 16 connects the longitudinal ends of ductile metallic members 12, 14 at first end 18 of hair ornament 10. As shown in FIG. 1, substantially rectangular ductile metallic members 12, 14 covered by liner 16 are disposed in an opposing relationship by bending hair ornament 10 at connecting portion 22 of liner 16. The opposed ductile metallic members 12, 14 and the connecting portion 22 of the liner 16 form an opening 18 for receiving a bundle of hair. The opposed ductile metallic members 12, 14 may be closed about the bundle of hair and shaped into a hair style as described below.

Fig. 6 shows another embodiment of a hair ornament 40. The hair ornament 40 also includes a pair of opposed, substantially rectangular ductile metallic members 42, 44 encased and fixedly attached within at least one liner 46. In this particular embodiment, for example, the pair of ductile metallic members 42, 44 are encased by separate liners 46A and 46B, respectively.

However, in an alternative embodiment, the ductile metallic members may be wrapped together as described above with respect to fig. 1-6. In this alternative embodiment, the liner may be cut at the end 48 of the hair accessory or simply folded between the pair of ductile metallic members.

The pair of opposing ductile metallic members are connected at least at the first end 48 and may be spaced apart from each other to define an opening 50 for receiving a bundle of hair. The pair of opposed ductile metallic members 42, 44 may then be brought back together to secure the strands of hair between the opposed ductile metallic members 42, 44. In this embodiment, the pair of opposing ductile metallic members 42, 44 are joined together at the first end 48 of the hair ornament 40 by a connecting means such as a rivet 60 (e.g., a self-piercing rivet with or without a cap), a bolt and nut, a clip, a staple, a weld, a solder, a heat fuse, or the like.

In the embodiment of fig. 6, hair accessory 40 comprises a pair of opposed ductile metallic members wrapped around and fixedly attached within at least one liner 46.

In this particular embodiment, the ductile metallic members 42, 44 are securely attached within at least one liner 46 along at least a portion of the length of the ductile metallic members 42, 44. For example, the ductile metallic members 42, 44 may be securely attached within the liner 46 along substantially the entire length of the ductile metallic members 42, 44. For example, the ductile metallic members 42, 44 may be attached within the at least one liner 46 by adhesives, double sided tape, welding, fusing, heat staking, stitching, hook and loop fasteners, or the like. In this manner, movement of the attached ductile metallic members 42, 44 relative to the liner 46 is reduced and allows the hair accessory 40 to grip the wearer's hair without slipping. In one embodiment, for example, the padding comprises velvet or suede material, although other materials may be used. The ductile metallic members 42, 44 may comprise any ductile metallic material, such as copper, aluminum, or an alloy of one or two metals.

Fig. 7-8 illustrate a method for assembling hair ornament 40 of fig. 6. In fig. 7, for example, a pair of substantially rectangular ductile metallic members 42, 44 are wrapped and securely attached within liners 46A and 46B, respectively, as indicated by arrows 58, 60. Ductile metallic members 42, 44 are disposed opposite each other with longitudinal ends 54, 56 disposed proximate each other at first end 48 of hair ornament 40. In one embodiment, the longitudinal ends may be fixed (e.g., by an adhesive or double sided tape disposed between the longitudinal ends) to prevent or reduce rotation of one ductile metallic member 42 relative to the other ductile metallic member 44. In an alternative embodiment, a second securing mechanism (e.g., a second rivet and cap) may be used to prevent or reduce rotation of one ductile metallic member 42 relative to the other ductile metallic member 44.

Where the means for joining the longitudinal ends 54, 56 of the ductile metallic members 42, 44 comprises a connection mechanism (e.g., a rivet 60 or a bolt and nut) that allows the overlapping longitudinal end regions to rotate relative to each other, the means for joining the first and second longitudinal end regions may additionally comprise means for securing the longitudinal end regions to limit the rotation of the overlapping end regions relative to each other with respect to the connection mechanism. For example, a layer of double-sided tape or adhesive may be disposed between the longitudinal ends of the opposing ductile metallic members to attach the end regions to each other. It has been found that by limiting rotation of the longitudinal ends with respect to the rivet or other connector, the ductile metallic member is less likely to crack and potentially cause damage to the hair accessories. Another possible means for securing the longitudinal ends of the opposing ductile metallic members together may comprise a band wrapped around the end regions of the ductile metallic members to restrict the ductile metallic members from rotating relative to each other. Where a rivet or other connector extends through the longitudinal ends of the opposing ductile metallic members, the strip may be wrapped around the overlapping longitudinal end regions before and/or after the rivet or other connector is inserted through the overlapping longitudinal end regions. Likewise, wrapping the overlapping longitudinal end regions restricts the longitudinal end regions from rotating relative to each other with respect to rivets or other connectors extending through the longitudinal end regions. The means for securing the longitudinal end region may further comprise at least one of gluing, welding, fusing, stitching, or any combination thereof, or securing the first longitudinal end region to the second longitudinal end region to limit rotation of the overlapping end regions relative to each other.

As shown in fig. 8, the longitudinal ends 54, 56 of the wrapped ductile metallic members 42, 44 are connected by a securing structure, such as a rivet 60 (e.g., a self-piercing rivet, capped or uncapped), a bolt and nut, a clamp, a staple, a weld, a solder, a heat fuse, or the like. The opposed ductile metallic members 42, 44 and the connecting portion 62 of the liner 46 form an opening 48 for receiving a bundle of hair. The opposing ductile metallic members 42, 44 may be closed about the bundle of hair and shaped into a hair style as described below.

Although examples of ductile metallic members for wrapping hair accessories with liners are described above with reference to fig. 1-8, other methods of wrapping or covering the ductile metallic members may be used. Many such methods are described, for example, in U.S. patent application nos. 11/157,232 and 12/033,552, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

One specific embodiment of joining the longitudinal ends of the ductile metallic members includes the use of one or more rivets. In one particular embodiment, the rivet may comprise a steel self-piercing rivet. In another embodiment, the rivet may comprise a breakstem (breakkstem) blind rivet fastener including a stem, a head, and a shank (shank) extending from the stem to the head. The head and shank extend through the longitudinal ends of the ductile metallic member. The end of the shank is pulled to retract the head into the shank until the longitudinal ends of the ductile metallic members are joined, and the shank is broken and removed from the rivet. Alternatively, the rivet may be a solid, hollow, double-drum (multi-grip), grooved, garland-type hollow, self-piercing, plastic, tubular rivet, a combination with cap (multi-piece) rivet, or any other type of rivet known in the art.

In an example embodiment, the ductile metallic member may comprise cold rolled copper or an alloy thereof comprising substantially copper, in a thickness between about 0.010 "to about 0.070" to provide a combination of toughness and bending resistance to the ductile metallic member. Substantially pure cold rolled annealed copper between about 0.010 "and about 0.070" in thickness provides a readily manually bendable member with sufficient bending resistance to hold a strand of hair in a desired configuration. Other metals having similar toughness and bending resistance may also be used. For example, the ductile metallic member may comprise a substantially rectangular piece of metal having dimensions from about 6.5 "by 0.0375" to about 9.5 "by 0.0625".

For example, the padding may comprise a material such as leather, imitation leather, suede, imitation lambskin, velvet, vinyl (e.g., polyvinyl chloride material), cotton, polyester, rayon, silk, hemp, reptile, imitation snake skin, open or closed cell foam, polyethylene, or polyurethane, or a combination of any of these materials. The liner may further comprise a material resistant to bending to prevent a portion of the liner extending beyond the ductile metallic member from folding or bending about the ductile metallic member. The liner may also include a memory effect, wherein, when the liner is deformed (e.g., with respect to the ductile metallic member), the liner is sufficiently resilient to return the deformed portion to its original position substantially parallel or coplanar with the ductile metallic member. This aspect of one embodiment of the liner provides a flat decorative surface and, in the event that the width of the hair accessory is substantially greater than the width of the ductile metallic member, restores the flat decorative surface in the event that the hair accessory is deformed when placed on the hair of the wearer. However, the liner should not be sufficiently resilient to overcome the resistance of the bent ductile metal member.

Method and guide for styling hair

Referring back to fig. 1, in one example use of hair accessory 10, a wearer may open hair accessory 10 by separating ductile metallic members 12, 14 to provide an opening 20 for receiving a strand of hair. The opening 20 of hair ornament 10 can then be closed by moving ductile metallic members 12, 14 toward each other with the strands of hair between ductile metallic members 12, 14. The hair accessory 10 (with hair strands) may then be rolled toward the head of the wearer. The hair accessory 10 may then be folded upon itself to form a circle that secures it in the hair of the wearer and forms the hair of the wearer into a circular ring. The hair of the wearer can also be spread out on the hair accessory to improve the uniformity of the ring.

Fig. 9-14 illustrate the steps of a method of styling hair into a circular ring with hair ornaments 102 according to the teachings of the present disclosure, and a corresponding method of instruction to the wearer on how to style a hair according to the disclosed method. As shown in fig. 9, the wearer's hair is gathered into a bundle of hair 100 for forming a circular loop. Hair bundle 100 may include an upper portion (as shown in fig. 9), a lower portion, or substantially all of the hair of the wearer. In addition, multiple strands of hair may be gathered for forming multiple rings. Hair ornament 102 has opposing ductile metallic members that are separable from each other along at least a portion of their longitudinal length to define an opening 104 for receiving hair strand 100.

As shown in FIG. 10, a bundle of hair 100 is inserted or slid into an opening 104 of hair accessory 102 while holding the hair accessory 102 adjacent the head of a wearer. The wearer then slides hair ornament 102 down the length of hair bundle 100 to a desired position, as indicated by arrow 108 in fig. 11. After positioning the hair accessory 102 in a desired position, the wearer may spread her hair so that the hair is evenly distributed through the openings 104 of the hair accessory 102. The opening 104 may then be closed about the hair bundle 100 by moving the ductile metallic members toward each other. Once the wearer is satisfied with the position of hair ornament 102 and the distribution of hair strands 100 within openings 104, she may curl hair ornament 102 up toward her head as shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B. The wearer's hair is wrapped around the hair ornament 102 forming a roll 106, at least partially obscuring the hair ornament 102.

If the desired position of hair ornament 102 is closer to the free end of hair strand 100 than the root of hair strand 100 at the head of the wearer prior to rolling hair ornament 102, then substantially all of hair strand 100 will be contained within roll 106 of hair ornament 102, as shown in fig. 12A. This is referred to herein as a standard donut (classic donut). However, if the wearer wishes for a portion of the strand of hair 100 to extend from the roll 106, for example as a modification of a hairstyle, she may select a desired location of the hair ornament 102 closer to the root of the strand of hair 100 at the wearer's head than to the free end of the strand of hair 100. As shown in FIG. 12B, when the bundle of hair 100 is rolled, a portion of the free end of the bundle of hair 100 extends outwardly from the roll 106. This is called a personality ring (funkydonut) herein.

Regardless of whether roll 106 takes the form depicted in fig. 12A or fig. 12B, to form roll 106 into a circular ring 110, the wearer grasps the ends of hair ornament 102 within roll 106, bending the ends downward and bringing them together into a substantially circular shape, as shown in fig. 13. In other embodiments, the roll may be bent into other shapes (e.g., square, triangular, and oval) to form the circle 110. Still further, the wearer may alternatively bend the ends of the hair ornament 102 upward to form the loop 110. When the wearer is satisfied with the shape of hair ornament 102 forming circular ring 110, the wearer may redistribute her hair around hair ornament 102 to provide a uniform appearance of circular ring 110 and to obscure hair ornament 102, thereby providing the appearance of continuously formed circular ring 110, as shown in fig. 14.

Although several embodiments of example hair accessories and methods of styling hair and instructing others to style hair have been described above with a certain degree of particularity, those skilled in the art could make numerous alterations to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention. In addition, certain features are described in the various embodiments for ease of understanding. These features may be interchanged with features of other embodiments or may be added to other embodiments. All directional references (e.g., upper, lower, upward, downward, left, right, leftward, rightward, top, bottom, above, below, vertical, horizontal, clockwise, and counterclockwise) are only used for identification purposes to aid the reader's understanding of the present invention, and do not create limitations, particularly as to the position, orientation, or use of the invention. Connection references (e.g., attached, joined, connected, etc.) are to be construed broadly and may include intermediate members between a connection of elements and relative movement between elements. As such, joinder references do not necessarily infer that two elements are directly connected and in fixed relation to each other. It is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not limiting. Changes in detail or structure may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Claims (10)

1. A hair accessory comprising:

a pair of substantially rectangular ductile metallic members substantially opposite each other and disposed within the at least one liner, the pair of substantially rectangular ductile metallic members being generally disposed in an end-to-end configuration in which proximate longitudinal ends of the pair of substantially rectangular ductile metallic members are disposed adjacent to each other and connected to each other and a distal longitudinal end of each of the pair of substantially rectangular ductile metallic members is configured to be open to receive a bundle of hair,

wherein the distal ends of the pair of substantially rectangular ductile metallic members are configured to be spaced apart from each other to define an opening therebetween for receiving a hair strand such that the hair strand slides into the opening between the pair of substantially rectangular ductile metallic members.

2. The hair accessory of claim 1, wherein the pair of adjacent proximate longitudinal ends of the substantially rectangular ductile metallic member are connected to each other with a rivet.

3. The hair accessory of claim 1, wherein the pair of adjacent proximate longitudinal ends of the substantially rectangular ductile metallic member are connected to each other by the at least one liner.

4. The hair accessory of claim 1, wherein the connected pair of adjacent proximate longitudinal ends is further secured to restrict rotation of the connected pair of adjacent longitudinal ends relative to each other.

5. The hair accessory of claim 1, wherein the liner comprises longitudinal lamellae.

6. The hair accessory of claim 1, wherein the liner is wrapped around the ductile metallic member.

7. The hair accessory of claim 1, wherein said ductile metallic member is fixedly attached within said at least one liner along substantially the entire length of said ductile metallic member.

8. The hair accessory of claim 1, further comprising means for joining together a pair of adjacent longitudinal ends of said ductile metallic member.

9. The hair accessory of claim 1, wherein the ductile metallic member comprises copper.

10. A method of using a hair accessory comprising:

forming a hair bundle;

passing said hair strands through an opening of a hair accessory defined by a pair of substantially rectangular ductile metallic members, the pair of substantially rectangular ductile metallic members are substantially opposite each other and disposed within at least one liner, the pair of substantially rectangular ductile metallic members are generally arranged in an end-to-end configuration in which, the pair of substantially rectangular ductile metallic members are disposed adjacent to and connected to each other proximate to the longitudinal ends thereof, and the distal longitudinal end of each of the pair of substantially rectangular ductile metallic members is configured to be open to receive a bundle of hair, wherein the distal ends of the pair of substantially rectangular ductile metallic members are configured to be spaced apart from each other to define an opening therebetween for receiving a hair strand such that the hair strand slides between the pair of substantially rectangular ductile metallic members;

rolling a strand of hair over the hair accessory; and

bending the ends of the hair accessory toward one another to form a circular loop.